Hagel, who is on his way out at the Pentagon and appeared with President Obama this week at a farewell ceremony, said the battle in Iraq against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria would not require U.S. troops just yet.

But he suggested the need could become apparent.

“I think it may require a forward deployment of some of our troops …” he said on CNN, according to a Reuters report. “I would say we’re not there yet. Whether we get there or not, I don’t know.”